Q: Do I need a referral to see one of the specialists? No,
you do not, unless your insurance requires one.

Medical Questions:

Q: What does NPO (nothing by mouth) mean?"Nothing by mouth" means nothing passes through
your lips including water, coffee and cigarettes. These directions are
for your safety.

Q: If you have been given samples, how do I
get more? If your care giver has given you samples and
they worked and you need more, call the office and ask for the nurses
voice mail. Leave a message indicating who you are, the medication name
and dosage you want, the pharmacy you want the prescription sent to and
their phone number. Please call at least one hour before you are planning
on going to the pharmacy to get your medication. If the medication has
not helped you, leave a message with the nurse and she will talk to the
doctor. There may be another medication that can be tried.

Q: How do I get my test results?When your test has ben completed, the results will
be forwarded to your care giver for review. You will be contacted once
the review is complete and will be given instructions.

Q: How do I schedule my surgery?When your doctor has recommended surgery, you
can call the office and talk to one of the nurses to set up the date and
time. When you call, have several dates in mind. Surgery is done on specific
days of the week as a rule and a day may not be available immediately.
The nursing staff will set up any additional appointments you may need
for surgery.

Q: Do I need to bring in my insurance card? Yes, bring your card(s) with you to your visit.
We will need to copy it to insure your insurance is properly filed.

Q: Do I need to tell the doctor if I have any
insurance or demographic changes?If you have any changes in your insurance, your living
arrangements, name changes, etc. be sure to tell the reception staff so
the changes can be made to your records.

Q: Whose responsibility is it to get pre-certifications
for tests and surgeries?If your insurance requires one, it is your responsibility
to obtain these approvals. Our staff will obtain these for you, if we
are informed that you need one.

Q: Is there a fee charged for filling out disability
forms?If the form is related to your work, there is no fee
charged. If the form is for a policy that you have to pay your bills etc.,
a fee will be charged. Complete your portion of the form and bring or
send it with your fee to the office. Our staff will complete it and send
it on to your insurance company. We will not send the forms back to you.

Q: How do I find out if my insurance will allow
me to see one of the Westside doctors?Your
insurance company is your best resource. You should also have a provider
list you can refer to if your plan restricts who you can see.

Q: Can I have my medical records?Your original medical records, by law, belongs to the
clinic or hospital at which you are seen. You do have the right to review
your record or, if you wish, for a fee, you may have a copy. Just call
the medical records department.

Q: How do I go about getting my records sent
to another doctor or facility?You may request your records sent to another doctor
or facility by completing a release form which allows us to forward them.
There is a special form that must be completed. You will need to initial
the areas for release of the special protected information that your record
may contain if you want that information released. You will also need
to indicate who you want the records sent to including address information.
A fee is applicable unless one of the physicians or the PA are recommending
you be seen elsewhere.